First low-cal diabetic food outlet to open in city on November 14

For all those who have a sweet tooth but are forced to restrict themselves for health reasons, there is good news. The Poona Guest House will start a new outlet serving items like laadu, gulabjamun, shrikhand, basundi and shira that will be prepared with low-calorie sugar. What is more, even tea, coffee and lemonade will be made with sugar-free products with lower levels of cholesterol.

The idea of starting the low-calorie diabetic menu was put up recently by the Lions Club District 323 and the Diabetes Care and Research Foundation (DCRF). According to Kirhor Sarpotdar, partner, Poona Guest House, and general secretary, Pune Restaurant and Hoteliers Association (PRHA), this was a project which had been pending since long.

"We wanted to prepare a proper healthy menu for our customers. World Diabetes Day (November 14) is a good occasion to begin this," said Sarpotdar, who earlier had started with diet Diwali pharal (Diwali food) at his restaurant and now will be introducing the diet thali for diabetes patients.

"By supporting Lions Club and DCRF, I want diabetics to consume such food and maintain their sugar level. We'll also introduce sugar-free puran polis, ukdiche modak and chapatis made with special flour during Hindu festivals like Ganpati Utsav," he said. Ganesh Shetty, president, PRHA, and owner of Hotel Kalinga, said that they would teach their cooks to prepare diabetic foods by January next year.

Cost factorThe diabetic food items will not be very expensive, costing about 20 per cent more than regular food items. "We are beginning with palak paneer, mix veg and other vegetables in Punjabi dishes. I am sure other hotels in Pune will certainly follow us if the drive goes successful," said Shetty.

He added that establishments like Great Punjab (Baner and Koregaon Park) Nisarg (Karve Road), 1000 Oaks (Cantonment) and others were keen to follow them. On November 15, PRHA in its annual gathering meeting at Garden Court in Chandani Chowk will be introducing a low-calorie egg curry for diabetic patients used with omega 3 vitamins. "We are hopeful that it will be made and served soon in all the outlets," Shetty said. Anank Kukde, marketing executive, Ensigns Health Care Pvt Ltd, said that his company had been promoting the low-calorie eggs and it was also trying to introduce low-calorie chicken in city restaurants.

Highest number of diabetics in cityA SURVEY conducted in 2009 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with the National Health Organisation (NHO) India showed cases of diabetes were the highest in the city at an approximate five lakh. Hyderabad and Bangalore had the next highest cases of diabetes.